John 10:27 - Who Is A Sheep

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
(KJV)

In vain do we hear his voice if we do not follow him. (Matthew Henry's
Commentary)

True disciples hear the Lord's voice and follow Him. They know the security
of being united with Him. They neither complain nor rebel. They obey. Simply
put, discipleship is total obedience to Christ. [Disciple SB]

How do we recognize God's people? What are the marks of faith? They believe
in Jesus. They listen to Jesus' voice. They follow Him. Confession,
obedience, and allegiance are the marks of the true believer. [Victor Bible
Reader's Companion]

They hear His voice, which means they hear His Word and respond to it. The
unsaved have little or no interest in the Bible; true sheep live in the
Word. . . . They follow Christ, which speaks of obedience. No one has a
right to claim to be one of Christ's sheep if he or she lives in willful,
persistent, open disobedience, and refuses to do something about it. . . .
Sheep are a beautiful illustration of Christians. Sheep are clean animals,
and Christians have been cleansed from their sin. Sheep flock together, and
so do true believers. Sheep are harmless, and Christians should be blameless
and harmless. Sheep are given to wandering-and so are we! Sheep need a
shepherd for protection, guidance, and food; and we need Christ for
spiritual protection, daily guidance, and spiritual food. Sheep are useful
and productive; so are true Christians. Finally, sheep were used for
sacrifices; and Christians are willing to yield themselves for Christ as
"living sacrifices" (Rom. 12:1). [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

"And they follow me." - John 10:27
We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd,
for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we
are bought with a price-let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood.
The soldier follows his captain, the servant obeys his master, much more
must we follow our Redeemer, to whom we are a purchased possession. We are
not true to our profession of being Christians, if we question the bidding
of our Leader and Commander. Submission is our duty, cavilling is our folly.
Often might our Lord say to us as to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow
thou me." Wherever Jesus may lead us, he goes before us. If we know not
where we go, we know with whom we go. With such a companion, who will dread
the perils of the road? The journey may be long, but his everlasting arms
will carry us to the end. The presence of Jesus is the assurance of eternal
salvation, because he lives, we shall live also. We should follow Christ in
simplicity and faith, because the paths in which he leads us all end in
glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths-they may be
covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the "city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God." "All the paths of the Lord are
mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant." Let us put full trust in
our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or
health, popularity or contempt, his purpose shall be worked out, and that
purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy. We shall find
it sweet to go up the bleak side of the hill with Christ; and when rain and
snow blow into our faces, his dear love will make us far more blest than
those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world's fire. To the top
of Amana, to the dens of lions, or to the hills of leopards, we will follow
our Beloved. Precious Jesus, draw us, and we will run after thee. [Morning
and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon]

        When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the
source of strength and life. Hence it is Satan's constant effort to
keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the
union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the
world, life's cares and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of
others, or your own faults and imperfections--to any or all of these
he will seek to divert the mind. Do not be misled by his devices.
Many who are really conscientious, and who desire to live for God,
he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses,
and thus by separating them from Christ he hopes to gain the
victory. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and
fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away
from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to
God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in
Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle
Paul, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Rest in God.
He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him. If you will
leave yourself in His hands, He will bring you off more than
conqueror through Him that has loved you.
        When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself
by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the
choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to
induce us to break this tie--to choose to separate ourselves from
Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that
nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always
free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He
will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. Nothing can pluck
us out of His hand. In constantly beholding Him, we "are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of
the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. SC71,2

Jesus places mankind in two categories:  those who follow Him and those who
do not.  Those who follow Him are in the minority and must struggle against
the current of our time in order to be obedient to Him.  The Lord calls His
followers to a life of selflessness; the world encourages each to get all
that he can.  The Lord calls His followers to a life of patient waiting; the
world urges immediate gratification.  The Lord calls His followers to labor
for the kingdom; the world strives for bigger, better, and the most now.
What do you do more than others?  Are you more selfless or selfish?  Are you
waiting or striving?  Does what you do have eternal or temporal
significance?  Think about it! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]